Manchester United star Robin van Persie has agreed a deal with Fenerbahce to leave Old Trafford, according to Sky Sports.
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If the 31-year-old completes a deal with the Turkish club, then one of the best strikers of the Premier League era will be departing from the division and is likely to never return in a playing capacity.
That makes this a good time to see how the forward matches up against the other greats of the past 23 years. Here are the top ten players with 100+ goals in the top flight, ranked by their goals to game ratio…
10) Les Ferdinand, 149 goals, 352 matches, 0.42 per game
Played for many clubs in the Premier League, most notably Tottenham, but managed to score fairly regularly wherever he went. Surprising the forward only played 17 times for England.
9) Robbie Fowler, 163 goals, 379 matches, 0.43 goals per game
Scored most of his goals with Liverpool, but also netted for Manchester City, Leeds United, and Blackburn Rovers in his time. Perhaps one of the best finishers to play in English football in recent times.
8) Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 127 goals, 288 matches, 0.44 goals per game
Impressed wherever he went in the Premier League, but is best known for his time at Chelsea. Now manager of Burton Albion in League One, having got them promoted last season.
7) Andy Cole, 187 goals, 414 matches, 0.45 goals per game
Helped to fire the Red Devils to numerous titles, including the famous treble in 1999. His partnership with Dwight Yorke was one of the best the division has ever seen.
6) Wayne Rooney, 185 goals, 407 matches, 0.45 goals per game
The United captain looks set to challenge Alan Shearer as the highest scorer ever in the top flight one day, but could have his efforts derailed by Louis van Gaal playing him in midfield.
5) Michael Owen, 150 goals, 326 matches, 0.46 goals per game
One of the best players in the world during his early days with Liverpool, but injuries sadly took much of the forwards’ pace in his latter years.
4) Robin van Persie, 144 goals, 280 matches, 0.51 goals per game
Despite many years of injury problems with Arsenal, the Dutchman eventually came good in his final season before moving to Old Trafford and firing the Red Devils to the title in his first campaign. Will he be missed?
3) Ian Wright, 113 goals, 213 matches, 0.53 goals per game
Famously started playing professionally at the surprisingly old age of 21, but that didn’t hold back the Arsenal legend from being one of the best forwards to have graced the league.
2) Alan Shearer, 260 goals, 441 matches, 0.59 goals per game
By far the highest scorer in Premier League history, and managed that without every playing for one of the ‘big four’ clubs.
1) Thierry Henry, 175 goals, 258 matches, 0.68 goals per game
Possibly the best player to have ever played in the division, and Arsenal fans will at least be able to say that two of their former players have done better than the ‘traitor’ van Persie.